The importance of washing produce

Saturday

Feb 16, 2013 at 11:10 AMFeb 16, 2013 at 3:10 PM

Rinse fresh vegetables and fruits under running water just before eating, cutting, or cooking.

Tip of the Week

Rinse fresh vegetables and fruits under running water just before eating, cutting, or cooking. Even if you plan to peel or cut the produce before eating, it is important to thoroughly rinse it first to prevent microbes from transferring from the outside to the inside of the produce.

-- ChooseMyPlate.gov

Number to Know

81: Percentage of conventional apple orchards that use organophosphates as pesticides, according to a USDA report.

Food Quiz

Poi, a traditional starchy dish eaten in Hawaii, is made from what root vegetable?

A. Daikon

B. Taro

C. Rutabaga

Answer at bottom of blog post.

Word to the Wise

Daikon is an Asian radish with a sweet and spicy flavor. It is an essential ingredient in Asian cooking and the most popular vegetable in Japan. The literal translation from the Japanese is "big root." The most common variety of daikon, however, looks like a turnip or white carrot, and that's probably the kind you'll find near the fresh ginger in the grocery store produce aisle.

-- Cookthink.com

The Dish On...

"Vegetables, Revised: The Most Authoritative Guide to Buying, Preparing, and Cooking, with More than 300 Recipes," by James Peterson

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Food Quiz Answer

B. Taro. Poi is a traditional Hawaiian staple made from boiled taro root that's been pounded to a smooth, glutinous paste. Poi is very easily digested, making its minerals (calcium and phosphorus) easily absorbed.